The period between the Congress of Vienna in 1815 and the revolution of March 1848 is referred to as the ‘Vormärz’ (lit.: pre-March). This epoch was characterized by efforts to re-establish the old political order in Europe and in the European empires. This meant going back beyond the ideas of the French Revolution and restoring systems of Absolutist rule. Created retrospectively, this innocent-sounding label concealed a finely spun net of police surveillance, state spies and censorship.